I love My TS-75 but.....

DrDankDust

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Joined
Mar 18, 2019
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18
So I absolutely love the saw but was somewhat frustrated  with aligning it to quickly break down sheet goods, so I bought the Festool protractor to help align the track I can say this is the first and only purchase from Festool that I'm incredibly disappointed with! It's not the functionality or quality that I have become accustomed to with Festool. So I wasted over $100 on that lesson learned.
I'm looking for alternatives, I've seen the TSO GRS squares which look good, but. in a I'm not in a position to sink $150 at the moment so I figured why not turn to the trusty FOG and see what the community has to offer as far as a DIY solution for now. Who knows maybe it will be good enough to save me from even buying the TSO.
Thanks in advance for any advice, you guys(and gals  ;) always come threw.
 
Since you're genuinely disappointed at the product, can you return it?

Then, spend the extra money needed and get the TSO product (I have never used it, but the youtube square cut test video convinced me it is a simple and effective accessory).
 
Unfortunately accessories don't have the return policy thru Festool.  That being said, some retailers have their own policies on all products.

What are the experiences that are causing your disappointment?  Without knowing those we can't offer constructive help.

Peter
 
Peter Halle said:
Unfortunately accessories don't have the return policy thru Festool.  That being said, some retailers have their own policies on all products.

What are the experiences that are causing your disappointment?  Without knowing those we can't offer constructive help.

Peter

In that case (and if the retailer does not take any accessory back), I would bite the bullet, sell the protractor (say, at 60% (50%?) of the price paid), and top up the sales proceed to get a TSO square. I have done something similar to get myself out of a poor situation, calling it short-term pain, long-term gain.
 
Good point Peter should have been more specific,
If you set it @ 90 then when you go to align the track the Rails are soo good at staying put on the surface its very tough to get it perfectly lined up without bumping the rail to protractor which shouldn't be a big deal but a minimal bump knocks it off its set angle. A lesser but similarly annoying issue is No positive stops & common angles. I do more commonly cut 90 but if their goal was to speed up alignment for common angles I think they failed, for the occasional odd angle its not bad if you don't mind fussing with it. I may just keep it for the odd angles but still looking for a solution for quick right angles.
 
I drilled and bolted my protractor at 90 degrees and it is still very difficult to get the rail set properly for 48" crosscuts.  I haven't seen that protractor in at least 5 years.    With a short (24") rail it could work but I gave up as I needed to square full size sheet goods.
 
DrDankDust said:
Good point Peter should have been more specific,
If you set it @ 90 then when you go to align the track the Rails are soo good at staying put on the surface its very tough to get it perfectly lined up without bumping the rail to protractor which shouldn't be a big deal but a minimal bump knocks it off its set angle. A lesser but similarly annoying issue is No positive stops & common angles. I do more commonly cut 90 but if their goal was to speed up alignment for common angles I think they failed, for the occasional odd angle its not bad if you don't mind fussing with it. I may just keep it for the odd angles but still looking for a solution for quick right angles.

Thanks for expanding.  In my opinion this is one of the weakest accessories in the Festool line.  For what you are desiring, unfortunately going aftermarket might be better.

Years ago I took my Festool one apart and made foam washers out of the foam strips that are on the bottom of the rail and that helped with maintaining an angle.

I use mine now as the equivalent of a bevel gauge in conjunction with the guide rail.

Peter
 
Somewhat glad to know that It's not an operator error issue w/the protractor.
Woodpeckers is definitely quality was just about able to get over the price & lack of feedback if it shipped before Sept 2019 however appreciate the info wasn't aware they were making something for guide rails.
Im thinking at this point the TSO line is my best bet as far as a known reliable repeatable 90 deg tool. /
Has anyone tried any DIY alt/ernatives for this? Also what's you're opinions on using the Makita rails with the Festool?
 
Apologies if my naivety is getting the better of me  - but if using an mft style top, why not go with a couple of rail dogs akahttps://benchdogs.co.uk/products/fence-dogs hooked into a Festool (or other t-track) fence, together with a stop - and then a couple other dogs or else rail dogs from the same company) - to align the rail?  This gives quick setup, flexible, accurate and repeatable 90 degree cuts every time.

Thanks,
 
Unfortunately don't own a MFT so I couldn't speak on how it would function paired with guide rails.
 
A protractor came with my MFT but I’ve never used it. I use a Woodpecker framing square to true up my TS55 rail. I’ve never had any problem getting perfectly square cuts. I do use the MFT hole pattern with dogs to orient the wood to the rail.
 
If you don’t have a reliably adjustable fence (relative to the guide rail with which you could make your own square with the 4 cut method), then the most economical way of setting the rail square is to buy the Anderson Plywood square. Then add a fence to one side for setting against the work piece.
 
I believe that the OP is talking about the Festool 491588 Angle Unit which is the protractor styles head that attaches to the rail (has nothing to do with an MFT).

This is the one that has a scale, no stops, etc.

Peter
 
DrDankDust said:
If you set it @ 90 then when you go to align the track the Rails are soo good at staying put on the surface its very tough to get it perfectly lined up without bumping the rail to protractor which shouldn't be a big deal but a minimal bump knocks it off its set angle.
You won't find me arguing on the fact it is a poor functioning tool. There is a solution for it being bumped out of whack so easily. Put a washer under the spring and it will stiffen it up making it far more secure.
 
DrDankDust said:
Somewhat glad to know that It's not an operator error issue w/the protractor.
Woodpeckers is definitely quality was just about able to get over the price & lack of feedback if it shipped before Sept 2019 however appreciate the info wasn't aware they were making something for guide rails.
Im thinking at this point the TSO line is my best bet as far as a known reliable repeatable 90 deg tool. /
Has anyone tried any DIY alt/ernatives for this
? Also what's you're opinions on using the Makita rails with the Festool?
 
Make or buy a 20mm hole square pattern top.  Then 4 dogs from either TSO or Lee Valley will give you a dead square 90° cut to the reference edge.  2 dogs form a fence for the workpiece and 2 dogs form a fence for the guide rail.  Failing that, then the TSO square approach is a more nimble way to get the same place.
 
Unfortunately, the Festool protractor has its limitations, as confirmed by others.  I had one and sold it for the same reason - It wouldn't hold a 90 degree square.  I bought the TSO and LOVE it.  IT works quickly and flawlessly and is worth the money.

It the short term - You could use a square you trust to square the guide rail with your workpiece.

The investment in the TSO will pay off down the line if you want to go to their parallel guide system, just released.
 
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